Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

American Headache Society

EIN 43-6058456 · Mount Royal, NJ

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN HEADACHE SOCIETY (AHS) IS A NONPROFIT PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS DEDICATED TO THE STUDY AND TREATMENT OF HEADACHE AND FACE PAIN IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE CARE AND LIVES OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HEADACHE DISORDERS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS MISSION, AHS PROMOTES THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND IDEAS CONCERNING THE CAUSES AND TREATMENTS OF HEADACHE AND RELATED PAIN DISORDERS; EDUCATES PHYSICIANS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND THE PUBLIC; AND ENCOURAGES SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

Income
$5.9 million
Spending
$5.2 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
16.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 82%
Employees
0
Volunteers
125
Highest pay
$22,000, secretary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $3.6 million spent. EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES AND PROGRAMS - AHS IS AN ACCREDITED CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION SPONSOR AHS HOSTS A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR DESIGNED TO EMPOWER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND MEDICAL STUDENTS AND EDUCATE THEM ON RECENT RESEARCH AND TREATMENT OPTIONS IN THE FIELD OF HEADACHE MEDICINE. THESE CONFERENCES AND PROGRAMS INCLUDE:-ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING-ANNUAL SCOTTSDALE HEADACHE SYMPOSIUM-MASTERING MIGRAINE THERAPIES PROGRAM-INTERNATIONAL HEADACHE ACADEMY-FIRST CONTACT EDUCATION PROGRAM-EMERGING LEADERS AND RESIDENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS
  2. $332,401 spent. MEMBERSHIP, PUBLICATIONS, AND RESEARCH - AS A PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP SOCIETY OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS DEDICATED TO THE STUDY AND TREATMENT OF HEADACHE AND FACE PAIN, AHS ASSESSES MEMBERSHIP DUES. AHS ALSO RECEIVES VARIOUS ROYALTIES AND EDITORIAL REIMBURSEMENTS UNDER PUBLICATION AGREEMENTS, INCLUDING THOSE FOR ITS JOURNAL "HEADACHE: THE JOURNAL OF HEAD AND FACE PAIN". THE JOURNAL IS PUBLISHED 10 TIMES YEAR AND FEATURES ORIGINAL ARTICLES ON ALL ASPECTS OF HEAD AND FACE PAIN INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS ON CLINICAL AND BASIC RESEARCH, DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT, EPIDEMIOLOGY, GENETICS, AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY HEADACHES, CRANIAL NEURALGIAS, AND PAINS REFERRED TO THE HEAD AND FACE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1965.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.